Despite what Netflix and Hallmark would have you believe, this holiday season is actually about a Jewish family who, after the birth of their son, fled their homeland to save his life. That baby, whose family became refugees in Egypt and then displaced persons in Nazareth of Galilee, grew up to be a man who asked all who believed in him to “welcome the stranger”, as he himself was.

Today, religious or not, we ask you, on the last day of this devastating “public charge” rule’s open comment period, to take two minutes and write a sentence to defend the lives and health of the immigrants who live amongst us. This proposed rule severely limits eligibility for entry to the U.S.. It will also deny visas and green cards to immigrants already in the U.S. legally as well as to non-citizen family members of U.S. citizens. Currently, non-citizens seeking U.S. entry and those applying for green cards must pass a “public charge test” if they need cash assistance. The new rule, which disproportionately targets families, the poor, and people with disabilities, would target non-cash benefits such as health care, food, and housing assistance. The Department of Homeland Security will use a list of “negative factors” against those who are the “wrong” age, poor or disabled, even if they’ve never used any government services. These factors include:

Household size of 3 or more

No private health insurance coverage

No high school diploma

Earning less than 125% of the federal poverty level ($31,375 for a family of four)

A disability or chronic health condition.

Limited English language

Under age 18 or over age 61

These rules will affect over 1 million people green card applicants a year, as well as 10 million seeking non-immigrant temporary visas, and about 500,000 non-immigrants seeking extensions of stay or changes of non-immigrant status. This includes up to half of all marriage green card applicants a year.

If you have more time…write paragraphs and/or attach your college thesis on the economic benefits of immigrants. Our keyboards can literally save lives.

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This holiday season is about a family of Jewish refugees, who left behind their homeland to save their son’s life. This Sunday, CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) is reaching out to people of faith and others to embrace their religious foundational traditions of welcoming and supporting the “strangers” in our midst.

It’s time to reach out, even to the most unlikely of allies, and stand indivisible in support of these asylum seekers.

There are two extremely important issues being addressed tomorrow at the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Meeting, at the Hall of Administration at 800 S. Victoria Ave.

Gun Shows at the Fairgrounds – 1:30 pm.

An addendum agenda has been added which includes an recommendation for the Board to request the Ventura Country Fairgrounds cease contracting for new gun shows at the request of Board member Steve Bennet.

Come get your feet wet, eat some food, make some new friends and help us raise money for the Immigrant Legal Defense Center (ILDC).

When:Sunday, August 19, between 11 AM and 2 PMWhere:Oxnard State Beach Park, Pavilion 2, 1601 Harbor Blvd, OxnardBring: Bring your family, friends and a side dish – we’ll be providing hotdogs! We’re also going to have about 20 pounds of marinated barbequed chicken that will need your close attention. Kids welcome. There will even be a piñata!

Just like the calls we ask everyone to make to their legislators, showing up at our local city council meetings gives our local leaders the strength to do the right thing.

The fight to stop cities from joining in on an anti-SB-54 lawsuit, Camarillo Edition.

(From Indivisible Conejo) “Some great news to start (or finish) your day! The Camarillo City Council has voted 5-0 to take a neutral stance on SB 54, the California Values Act. The vote followed more than three hours of public comment. Thank you so much to the activists of Camarillo, the Conejo Valley and elsewhere — including a number of hearty souls from Indivisible: Conejo. Thousand Oaks, take note — this is how a good-hearted group of activists and a brave council repel the anti-immigrant horde!” Continue reading “Thurs 5/24: The “Blue Wave” starts at home.”→

As we pick up the pieces from this disaster with the help of government assistance and homeowners insurance, we need to remember that thousands of impacted local immigrant families are struggling to make ends meet without any help.

Some lost their homes and essential belongings with the destruction of farmworker housing and apartments. Others lost their jobs as the houses where they cleaned, gardened, cooked, or cared for children were evacuated or destroyed. Others lost days or weeks of wages as the only freeway between Ventura and Santa Barbara was severed by mudslides and outdoor air quality was hazardous for farmworkers, landscapers and day laborers. Continue reading “A good thing.”→